We survived!

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31072011210148Image4225.jpgWith the least attendants so far, the Survival® seminar, by which the School for classical Japanese martial arts is well known, was successfully completed. Of a total of five members of our dojo that attended, everyone completed this seminar.

This time we were lucky enough to avoid the heat characteristic for this time of the year in Macedonia, but we met another obstacle. Namely, according to the locals living nearby mountain Lipac, yesterday night was the coldest summer night until now. Between the hours of 02.00 and 06.00 the temperature descended to just a few degrees celsius above zero, and the humidity of the air was so high that our sleeping bags got entirely wet. In such conditions, the night was indeed long and hard.

During the Saturday, besides the lessons in
31072011210118Image4212.jpg shelter building,  shidoshi Igor Dovezenski taught the students knife-fighting techniques, as well as techniques of unarmed self-defense.
Sunday morning, traditionally was reserved for kenjutsu, followed by a meditation by the small waterfall, which is also performed each year during this seminar.

After this, the attendants of this seminar headed towards `Stari lozja`, a place of big importance with the locals until the beginning of the 20th century. After that period, the place was abandoned, and the rituals performed there completely forgotten. Because of this, the members of Bujinkan Macedonia, during last year`s Survival decided to help restore this place, and this year the work was completely finished. With that, `Stari lozja` again gained it`s stone cross buried deep beneath the ground (and broken), and the holy oak tree was completely cleaned of bushes and thorns around it. With this action, we proved that the members of Bujinkan Macedonia wish not only to study classical Japanese martial arts, but are also taking care of the Macedonian culture and tradition.

Survival®

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13072011124751465.jpg„Only the strongest survive“.
Under this motto, the warriors from Bujinkan Macedonia will one again have the opportunity to put to test their physical and mental endurance. As every year, again we will test our abilities and skills in practice:

Survival®

Two hellish days, away from civilization, without food and with only a liter and a half of water, without additional clothes or hygiene-related items. Two days of practice, meditation and bare survival.

Location: S`mkneno (26 km. from the closest city and hospital / desert conditions)

Date: 30th and 31st of July, 2011

Departure: Saturday, at 07.00

Return: Only God knows

Read carefully!!!

Before the seminar, each participant should take care of any medical examinations required and get a written or oral permission from their physician about their physical and mental health and readiness to undertake a two day extreme strain without food and water, along with hard training sessions and only three hours of sleep. Every potential participant comes at their own responsibility about the eventual consequences on his health or life!

The event is open to everyone, and every citizen of the Republic of Macedonia above the age of 18 can attend.

Allowed equipment: sleeping bag, tent wing, military
130720111248072354.jpguniform (worn, pants and shirt), one t-shirt, a cap, one pair of
underpants (wide), one pair of socks, rope, a knife and a bottle of a
liter and a half (empty).

Important: it is forbidden to carry food, water or anything else not mentioned above. Before we depart, there will be a checkup.

Most important: this seminar is only meant for tough guys and girls. The training conditions will be exceptionally hard with an iron discipline. Those that do not feel psycho-physically ready to `enter hell` –  we would ask you not to come to this seminar. Allowed drinking water for both days: 1.5 liters. Consider that the air temperature might rise above 45 degrees Celsius. It is forbidden to sit on your behind during the seminar (both days), or lying down on all four extremities. Only three hours of sleep, constant training for the remaining time.

P.S. It is forbidden to make excuses, whine or anything similar during the seminar,

Would you like to discover if there is life after death?
Come to this seminar and you will have the opportunity to uncover this great mystery.

A successfull Sui Ren seminar

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After two years, we again held the traditional Sui Ren seminar. Even though the sun was intense, the water of Kriva river slowly got warmer, because of the recent extreme temperatures, the highest for this summer. The horse flies that flew and `feasted` on our bodies didn`t at all ruin the great atmosphere that was present during this seminar.

The seminar started by a lecture on Sui Ren, followed by practical application. According to the plan, we were to learn a sum of 7 techniques during the day, and after a seven-hour `trial by water`, out plan was successfully completed. The hardest obstacle for the beginners was breathing underwater with a pipe (fukia), while the most interesting for them were the camouflage techniques. It wasn`t easy to train with a `gi` (cotton training gear) in the cold waters, especially after a few hours passed inside it.

At the end, the students of Bujinkan Macedonia, event though frozen cold, sucessfully completed this seminar, mostly because of the discipline and will gained through training with shidoshi Dovezenski as elements required for success.

Student degree testing

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04072011074909574.jpgIn the dojo of Bujinkan Macedonia, last week we had a student degree testing. The test for the 9th kyu was successfully taken by: Panche K., Ivan M., Kiril M., Stefani G., Monika S. and Gjoko H.

The 7th kyu test was passed by Damjan S., Stefan R., Goran B., Goran M., Dragan N., Todor A. and Vladimir A.

The 5th kyu test was passed by: Filip A. and Kosara P.

We congratulate them on their advancement.
Gambatte!

Sui Ren – outdoor seminar

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On the 10th of July, the instructor of Bujinkan Macedonia, shidoshi Igor Dovezenski, will teach the seventh outdoor seminar for this year.

The theme of this seminar will be Sui Ren – battle training while in water, which was mandatory for all shinobi warriors. This event will take place at the river which is located at the base of mountain Lipac. All advanced students of Taiyou e no Michi, Bujinkan Macedonia dojo have the right to attend this seminar.

Date: 10.07.2011 (Sunday)

Location: Dolno Proodishte

Program:
09.00 hours – departure from Skopje
10.00 hours – arrival
10.30 -17.30 hours – theory and practice
18.30 return

In case the weather conditions prove to be exceptionally bad for a prolonged training while in water, the theme of this seminar will be changed to: Feeding in the outdoors (The food is all around us).

Macedonia got it`s first Shidoshi!

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21062011211600buyukai3.jpgDuring the period from the 12th to the 21st of June, the instructor of Bujinkan Macedonia, Igor Dovezenski, was in a working visit of Germany, where he took part in the biggest seminar in that country, called Buyu Kai. At the event, he passed the godan test (5th dan), better known as Sakki (deadly intent). By that, Igor Dovezenski became the first Macedonian citizen to pass this test and gained the title of Shidoshi (one of the higher titles in Bujinkan).

For those not acquainted with this test, it is taken with the
21062011211536buyukai2.jpgcandidate sitting in seiza (sitting posture), while one of the chief instructors (who should have a special permission from Soke Masaaki Hatsumi) attacks them with a wooden sword from behind their back. If the candidate feels the attack in a timely fashion and rolls forward along with escaping from the strike, he becomes a Shidoshi. In order to achieve that, one needs years and years of hard practice.

21062011211519buyukai1.jpgTo make it even harder, Dovezenski took this test in front of 20 Shihans from all around the world, who witnessed the event. He did that on demand from master Steffen Froelich, one of the first German ninjutsu masters, who has gotten his special permission to perform the test on Dovezenski from Soke Masaaki Hatsumi.

Before the seminar, who lasted four days (16th-19th of June), the leader of Bujinkan Macedonia held a dozen training sessions with his friend Ivan Ivanov, also a former student of Dovezenski and a current student of Shihan Froelich. Also, he held a training session in the dojo of Shihan Froelich along with his old friend Steffen Shultz, who can be freely called one of the best ninjutsu practitioners in Germany.

During the ten-day stay in the country, Dovezenski had the
21062011211617buyukai4.jpgopportunity to learn and practice with many other shihans, among which: Holger Kunzmann, Sheila Haddad, Giuseppe Costa, Andre Frost etc. Also, one of the more interesting training sessions was the one with Tyon Kit Sien, a master of Wudang Kung Fu (Wu Shu), who selflessly transferred a part of his knowledge in this art.

Especially emotional was the meeting between instructor Dovezenski and the Shihan Ed Martin (Papa san) during one of the training sessions in the dojo of Shihan Froelich,
as well as their meetings during the next few todays of the seminar in Katlenburg.

There is a lot more to write and tell about this great event, but instead of a long text, at the end we would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the organizer of Buyu Kai 2011, Steffen Froelich, for the great organization and his honest and most valuable support towards Bujinkan Macedonia.

A succesfull `Kenjutsu under the stars of Lipac` seminar

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06062011095735onoha1.jpgTo some dojos, 23 participants on an international seminar means a great success, but for the school for classical martial arts Taiyou e no Michi that is a normal number for a regular local outdoor seminar.
Regular and local it may be, but not at all ordinary. In fact,  on each of our seminars one can easily see the will and wish of our students for constant advancement and deeper immersion in the world of the classical Japanese martial arts.

A two-day seminar, entitled `Kenjutsu under the start of Lipac`, once more showed our great dedication.

On Saturday, with giant camping bags upon our backs,
 06062011095812onoha2.jpgwe first climbed at the top of mountain Lipac, where we did our first training session. Afterwards, we descended towards the st. George monastery, where we continued our training sessions.
At the end of the training, instructor Igor Dovezenski answered the many questions asked by the students, regarding the Ono ha Itto Ryu school.

We `spiced` the night with a nice bean stew, around a big table, and sleeping under the stars reminded us of how much we miss living in the cities and alienating ourselves from nature.

On Sunday, we began with a morning training session at 06:00, followed by cleaning and tidying the monastery and it`s surroundings.

We had breakfast afterwards, followed by a second training session. While we trained, there was some tea getting prepared in two old kettles, freshly collected which refreshed us and gave us strength during the short break.

06062011100529onoha3.jpgAfter the second training session, the students had a break at the monastery, and that was actually the only lengthy break for this whole seminar.
When that break was over, we had our last training session, which showed the battle readiness of our students. Namely, the last exercise was about defending oneself from constant quick attacks with a sword, that were without warning and from all sides by a couple of opponent – putting the one defending themselves under constant pressure and stress.

At the end of this seminar, after we tidied-up the yard of the beautiful monastery, we departed towards the starting point. We arrived in Skopje around 22.00, tired but happy because of the great seminar during this weekend.

Kenjutsu under the stars of Lipac

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Last year we had a deal to make this seminar a tradition and so we keep our promise. The seminar that was long awaited by everyone. A two day outdoor training, at the top of the legendary Lipac mountain.

After the great experience last year, we decided to have this seminar every year in June and study the classical Japanese swordfighting school: Ono ha Itto ryu (Takeda den).

During the day, there will be three training sessions and the night is reserved for having fun, make some barbeque and a couple of beers.

As you already know, the School for classical Japanese martial arts Taiyou e no Michi, besides the Bujinkan schools, also trains other arts such as Ono ha Itto ryu Kenjutsu. We are members of the Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai, led by sensei Antonino Certa, the only non-Japanese shihan for Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. This sword school was mandatory to learn by the mighty samurai clan Takeda. The legendary warrior Sokaku Takeda, known as the last samurai, was a menkyo kaiden (licensee of full transmission) for this exact kenjutsu ryu-ha. 

Date: 04/05 June, 2011  (departure from Skopje at  07.00)

Location: under the stars of mountain Lipac

Equipment: tent, sleeping bag, keiko gi, bokuto, food and water.

For additional information, contact us on our phone.

The seminar is open to all, regardless of style and art.

If you lack equipment, feel free to contact us.

This event will take place regardless of weather conditions.

A successful Yumi Ya seminar

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15052011204242Yumi_Ya_88.jpgIn the location known as Orlova Chuka, upon one of the lower hills of Lipac, today we had the Yumi Ya seminar, i.e. ninja bow and arrows. About ten students attended this event, all members of Bujinkan Macedonia, who under the hot sun refined this art for the entire length of the day.

As usual, at the beginning of this seminar, instructor Igor Dovezenski held a lecture about the historical development of the bow and arrows, followed by practical examples on how to build this weapon in the shortest amount of time.

Afterwards, the training began by shooting while using certain body postures, followed by drills to improve the usage of this weapon.

At the end of this event, we practiced techniques of shooting in length, by which the students had the chance to see how with a simple creation such as the bow and arrows (created in less than 15 minutes), one can shoot lengths of over 100 meters.

Yumi Ya Jutsu (Bow and Arrows)

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The art of handling bow and arrows was mandatory to learn by each of the Japanese bushi (warriors) and was one of the most important until the emergence of firearms (tetupo). The usage of bow and arrows remained popular until the 17th century, but in this period, more towards the goal of spiritual improvement of the samurai. On the other hand, the shinobi warriors kept this weapon in practical use, because of it`s simple manufacturing process and the it`s ability to be used silently.

On 15.05.2011 (Sunday), the School for classical martial arts Bujinkan Macedonia is organizing a seminar, titled: Yumi Ya Jutsu (the art of bow and arrows).

On the seminar, various ways of manufacture will be studied, as well as body postures when shooting it. Additionally, the students will have the opportunity to learn the strategy ti use in different situations.

The seminar is open to every member of Bujinkan Macedonia.
 
Date: 15.05.2011 (Sunday)

Location: Orlova Chuka

Program:
08.00 – departure from Skopje
09.00 – arrival
10.00 – 17.30 – theory and practice
18.30 – return

This seminar will take place regardless of the weather conditions.